HURIWA Seeks ₦50m Compensation For Freed Oyo Schoolchildren

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the federal government to pay ₦50 million compensation to each of the schoolchildren, teachers and other victims recently freed after being abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The group said the compensation would support the victims’ rehabilitation, psychological recovery and reintegration into school following more than 50 days in captivity.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA welcomed the release of the victims but insisted that Nigerians deserved to know the full circumstances surrounding their freedom.

The association urged the federal government to provide a detailed account of the operation that led to the victims’ release, saying transparency would strengthen public confidence in the country’s security operations.

HURIWA also called on President Bola Tinubu to apologise to the victims and Nigerians over what it described as the government’s failure to prevent the abduction.

The rights group maintained that beyond securing the victims’ release, the government must ensure adequate support for their recovery and take concrete steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.